“Ours is not the task of fixing the entire world all at once,
but of stretching out to mend the part of the world
that is within our reach.”
~~ Clarissa Pinkola Estes
Greetings to all my precious people!!
The Lunar New Year began on January 29, 2025, amidst worldwide celebrations but the Yin Wood Snake will officially emerge on Monday, February 3. Wàn shì rú yì (萬事如意) is a Chinese phrase that means “May all your wishes come true” or “Everything is going very smoothly”. Wàn shì rú yì conveys the wish for someone to have their hopes and desires fulfilled, and is commonly used as a greeting during Chinese Lunar New Year.
The Dragon Year of 2024 put all aspects of life through the wringer with so many foundational shifts. Take a moment to gently review the past year and note any significant changes or disruptions. Because not all the changes were what we wanted nor welcomed, and yet… here we are. Managing all the things we didn’t see coming. Discombobulation and turbulence were created and the repercussions will continue. But now we are on the edge of the Yin Wood Snake, which carries the medicine of stillness and emptiness, and represents the energetics of new beginnings. Snake is the total opposite of Dragon, and highlights the Yin and Yang of the Chinese zodiac.
The Wood Element represents growth, while the Yin Energy is feminine, intuitive, changing, and mysterious. This is a wonderful year to focus on our internal world, with deep reflection allowing some visionary insights to flow. We are reminded to find ways to feed and nurture our intuition which is our inner teacher and can be our most trusted guide. Let us embrace our inner feminine mystery. May we be brave and courageous as we shed light on our inner darkness.
Being able to recognize our own sense of Presence and attune our awareness to the physical world is paramount in this year of new beginnings. We are encouraged to practice returning to the body, again and again, learning how to pay attention to the physical phenomena of whispers and direction. With compassionate intention, we can begin to sift out the stories underneath the discomfort and clear our spaces where the empty presence can support Qi transformation. The Yin Wood Snake inspires us to be more self-reflective and contemplative. We are gathering resources to promote our slow and steady growth, in the places of stillness and emptiness.
The appearance of Snake is interpreted as a sign of incoming change and transformation, inviting us to shed the old to create the new. It is a reminder to remain conscious and aware of our surroundings to avoid danger. The Snake body is always closely connected to its environment and relies on its highly attuned senses of scent, sound and vibration.
Snake is also represented as the Ouroboros. An alchemical symbol that expresses eternity and the unity of all things, material and spiritual, the ouroboros is perpetually changing in an eternal cycle of destruction and recreation. Often depicted as the snake eating its own tail in a circle, beginnings and endings are locked in an internal dance. We are in a constant state of change and transformation, in accordance with the movement of the Universe, of yin and yang, constantly shifting one into each other.
Snake energy is a powerful feminine medicine when used with insight and integrity. She will transform us from the inside out until our old skin is completely shed. Allow the process to begin now. Move slowly with grace and ease. Choose to surrender and release. The energy of the Yin Wood Snake can help us peel back layers of denial and show us new possibilities if we are willing to grow and change. Choose to be the gentle observer in the different parts of life and in your relationships. Allow the big picture view to be part of your landscape and explore what is beyond your immediate grasp.
The Yin Wood Snake invites us to lean into its transformative and intuitive energy. She is not here to scare us. Instead, she wants to help us let go of the beliefs, habits, and patterns that no longer serve us. She asks us to confront the stagnant areas of our lives and embrace the opportunity for renewal and growth.
The Rod of Asclepius, featuring a single Snake wrapped around a staff, is linked to healing, medicine, and renewal. This symbol connects to the transformative power of the Snake, suggesting:
- The ability to heal through wisdom and balance.
- The merging of opposites (duality) to create harmony.
- The movement of energy (akin to kundalini rising or the DNA helix).
This year, the Snake’s symbolism invites inner alchemy—the shedding of outdated identities, tuning into intuition, and embracing renewal in mind, body, and spirit. How does this resonate with your vision for transformation and healing?
Some things to consider:
- Think back to life one year ago. What did you learn? Has anything changed?
- Think back to 2013 (the last year of the Snake). Who were you then? How have you changed? What have you learned?
- What areas of your life feel comfortable but don’t actually serve you?
- What patterns keep you stuck in the same place?
- What have you been avoiding?
- What grudges are you still holding? How can you choose to see things differently?
- Who do you need to forgive? Perhaps your own precious Self?
- What has your intuition been telling you that you continue to ignore?
- If you could make one huge transformation, what would it be?
- Who would you become if that change happened?
- What and who still triggers you? Why?
- What is your superpower and how can you use it to its fullest potential?
- What’s really important to you, and how can you honor that every day?
- How do you make time for introspection and spiritual connection every day?
- What are your intentions and goals for 2025? Write them down and with each item, visualize yourself achieving this new state of being and how you will feel.
Mental, Physical, and Spiritual Aspects of the Yin Wood Snake:
- Mental: The snake is linked to deep thinking, intelligence, and strategic planning. This year encourages introspection, mental clarity, and uncovering hidden truths. It’s a time for embracing intuition and making decisions with patience rather than impulsivity.
- Physical: Snakes symbolize regeneration and adaptability. This can translate to paying attention to bodily rhythms, engaging in restorative practices like detoxing, breathwork, and mindful movement (yoga, tai chi, qigong). The snake’s ability to move fluidly reminds us to maintain flexibility in both body and habits.
- Spiritual: In many traditions, the snake represents kundalini energy, the coiled life force at the base of the spine that rises through the chakras to awaken higher consciousness. The year of the Yin Wood Snake is ideal for deepening spiritual practices, tuning into subtle energies, and seeking inner transformation.
While the weather patterns across the country and the world have been wicked and wild, February will be yet another wake-up call for us to move out of passivity in the face of overwhelm. The arrival of the Yin Wood Snake is the true start of 2025 leading us to the edge of tomorrow. Yes, things are falling apart, but they are also being reconnected, redesigned and reshaped to allow a new order to emerge from the chaos. We need to be a part of this. We need to contribute our gifts in these times of turmoil.
Remember this: Our destiny is not established solely by the influence of the stars, nor the random (or not) moment of our birth. Some will tell us that instead, our Path and ultimate destiny is directly related to the infinite loop of stories and reinforced beliefs that are constantly replaying in the background. Below the surface, in the realm of unconsciousness, where the programming was placed and took root long before we were curious about it. These stories, these fanciful and often misremembered bits of information continue to shape our perceptions of the present moments and misconstrue meanings.
The Year of the Yin Wood Snake is deeply symbolic, representing wisdom, transformation, intuition, and renewal. Since it is associated with shedding old skin, signifying rebirth and new beginnings, it aligns with the concepts of healing and personal evolution. Guided by the Wood element, the Yin Snake invites you to focus on growth, resilience, and thoughtful planning. Nurture personal development, embrace transformation, and approach life with mindfulness and intention.
May this Year of the Yin Wood Snake grace you with wisdom, creativity, courage and resilience. May you navigate challenges with optimism and grace. May you welcome opportunities for growth and renewal. May you embrace your humanity with compassion and kindness. May you meet others where they are as you celebrate the gifts of Life and Love. May laughter be part of your good medicine. Blessings to you for a new year filled with harmony, abundance, and success.
